Pinniped Notes

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Ecological Notes:

  • All 3 Adult Female Elephant seals have left the island, occasionally showing up late at night, bellowing from the high points of the island for a couple hours, then returning to the ocean. I wonder if they are calling out looking for males?
  • The 3 Elephant Seal pups have formed their own little pack and have been spending time”wrestling” and exploring the small standing fresh water pond. They also have been exploring the mud flats to the north of the house, looking out towards the water. In past years, they have followed adults down to the water via the boat ramp, but haven’t seemed to explore that way yet.

Meeting at the scratching branch

“This is our Ocean!” (not really, it’s just a mud puddle)

“The real ocean is out there….. but how do we get to it?”

  • Big Male Steller Sea Lions have pretty much taken over the prime area of rock by the crane shed. The largest each take their own rock, and are surround by smaller ones that look to me like females. Remembering that in December, I photographed 4 different females nursing young here at Race Rocks.

  • Female Steller nursing a pup!

A couple California Sea Lions in this one, but normally just big males Stellers and smaller Stellers (females?)

  • There are fewer California sea lions around, but there are reports of many hauled out at Trial Island, which has not been seen for many years.

Visitors:

  • Quick visit from Pearson staff with family members
  • Due to weather, just a quick touch and go from the waterfront coordinator for deliveries

Facility Work:

  • Swapped tires and rims off a hand truck to the pressure washer trolley while repairing the ones off the trolley
  • Gradual pressure washing of paths and grime on buildings

DND events:

  • Ongoing Detonations

Noted Vessel Traffic:

  • Limited Eco-Tourism in some of the weather breaks

 Feature Event:

  •  none

Weather Events:

  • Previous week was a full range of cold wind, light snow, and rain squalls
  • Saturday , February 25:
    • Sky: Overcast with Sunny Breaks
    • Wind: E to NE – 5 – 12 kts
    • Sea: 1 meter waves most of the day
    • Temperature Low -1oC, High 4oC
  • Sunday, February 26:
    • Sky: Full mix of sun, cloud, and overcast as the system moves through rapidly, including mixes of sleet and hail
    • Wind: W 35-40kts, dropping over the day to 1o kts
    • Sea:  1 meter waves in the morning, flattening as the day progressed
    • Temperature Low 1oC, High 6oC

 

 

** All wildlife photos taken at the furthest distance possible, and may be cropped to improve detail! **

 

Weather – Current:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/current.php?id=72

 

Weather – Past:

http://www.victoriaweather.ca/station.php?